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7 Comments

First paid client! Still feels like failing.

<vent>

I'm making an edTech product. Schools don't have programming teachers, because if you can code, you'll get a way better deal on the market. So I created a platform that lets a normal teacher teach programming.

I've just finished my first course with 17 students. It went well, students were excited and feedback was great. School ordered the next course.

Problem is all of this is taking a lot of time and I'm going to run out of saving soon. I still have a job (billed hourly), but working on it feels like abandoning my dream (I've taught programming all of my 8+ year career). At the same time if I don't work on it every day I will lose it.

I've started putting together a pitch deck to raise capital, but looking into market numbers and competitors is so discouraging. Makes me feel like I have no idea what I'm doing. I mean, I don't - in terms of capturing a market. But I do in the sense of how programming should be learned.

Another option would be to use the same platform and materials to train grownups - but then my focus is all over the place all of a sudden. My product does support grownups and remote learning, but I would have no idea how to market such a thing and that also takes loads of time (i imagine).

Ugh.. feeling desperate. What a time to be taking risks, got a 5 month baby to take care of.

</vent>

  1. 1

    Hey Krister, Go for small wins instead of thinking of the long game. Forget raising capital at this moment. So instead of doing a course in person, create an online course/video.

    Even before you start recording, put up a landing page with gumroad/stripe and take pre-orders. This way it can generate money and help validate the idea further. Market it in communities and on Twitter. Don't go in mob-handed and show them what you've got. Offer them value in a long form blog post or advice and that will lead them to your pre-order.

    If I remember right Joel Hooks of Egghead.io bundled and sold Youtube videos first. Now his business is worth $3 million.

    Reasons to go down this route:

    1. This will be no where near as time/resource intensive as what you're doing now

    2. It'll increase brand awareness which brings people to your product

    3. It can create revenue instantly with pre-orders

    4. It can open you up to a global audience

    5. Doing all the above and then marketing it right doesn't take a lot of time. Done right it can be created and distributed in less than 24 hrs. They key is to be fast and make the marketing valuable to the end reader.

    Extras:

    If you're product is up to it and you want to leapfrog the community marketing, try AppSumo. They'll put your product in front of a million people and then some.

    If you want to go down the more organic community building route, get in touch with me on the live chat at https://communitable.xyz/ or at [email protected] and I'll give you a hand.

    Ric

    1. 1

      Go for small wins

      oh man yeah.. I keep reminding myself of this.

      These are some amazing ideas. I've started Twitter now and am working towards a following to offer to.

      Done right it can be created and distributed in less than 24 hrs.

      Wow I find that hard to believe, but I guess an expert may be able to. Just like I'm a dev and I can get a MVP out in 24h indeed.

      And I will want to check out your community list at one point too.

      1. 1

        Hey Krister,

        I was doing some research and came across this. May give you a wee bit of inspiration.

        https://www.indiehackers.com/post/launched-my-first-course-earned-over-us-500-000-ama-4382405cd5

        1. 1

          yeah that is a nice read. thanks. mostly just confirms that you need a large following to be able to sell something.

      2. 1

        Hey Krister,

        Twitter is pretty amazing. I've started using it and, I'm no expert myself, but after a week or two you'll notice patterns on why posts are being engaged.

        Depending on your course, 24hrs may be a push but yeah totally hear you about getting the MVP out It'll bring eyes to your product and thats the name of the game. Also Id say take notes about and chart how an MVP got push out in 24hrs. Create a blog about it and link to it on HN, post on Reddit, here on IH, chop it into Twitter thread. Just doing those few channels will put it in front of hundreds of thousands of right people. And it won't cost you a penny :)

        The Community list is getting better as we speak as I'm adding a swipe file to it that breaks down how indie makers have successfully posted in the channels, went viral and brought eyes to their product.

        PS you're not failing so please don't think that. You're learning. Just like I am. Wish you the very best with all you've got going on in the meantime!

  2. 1

    Not sure what the best solution is but good luck, Krister! Having a paid client is a huge first step.

    1. 1

      Thanks. I will push through.

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